Yesterday afternoon, the Assemblea Capitolina formally voted on recognising the project was in the public interest. There were 9 votes against, but 28 in favour and one abstained, so the motion was passed.

It’s still a long way off seeing the Stadio della Roma built, but is an important milestone. Now the regional authorities have to have a vote on whether the stadium is in the public interest too.

The votes were possible only after Roma agreed to seriously downsize the extent of planned developments. As a crucial measure three office towers beside the stadium were scrapped (would have been Rome's tallest buildings), with a height limit of 50 meters now in place.

The stadium itself will not be smaller, however also here a cut was made. Designed to allow expansion from 52,600 to just over 60,000, the building will now be allowed to grow only to some 55,000.